“Don’t tell me you’re thinking of ruining the Doan family’s reputation?”

“Don’t you know how much I love and cherish this family that I’ve served since the previous generations?”

“Yes, I do. That’s why I’m telling you. Don’t bring up such shocking things again. Just pick out that old suit for me.”

“That suit? Definitely not! It’s a ten-year-old suit. For this occasion, you should have a new one tailored.”

“Why be so finicky about clothes? As long as I look presentable, it’s fine.”

“It’s precisely my point. You need to look presentable, which is why you need a new suit.”

“Why are you being so persistent today? It’s not like I’m saving money for myself. If you keep nagging, I’ll live my life my own way. Maybe I should give birth to Ron’s child?”

“My Lord!”

The butler cried out in horror just as Ron entered, holding a tray of refreshments.

“Ah, finally, a break.”

She openly welcomed the refreshments, cutting off the tense atmosphere. The butler glared at Ron with distaste. Most of the household looked down on Ron, but the butler was the one who despised him the most.

If looks could kill, Ron would have been dead by now. After glaring at him for a while, the butler turned to her and said,

“How long do you plan to use Ron like this? Right now, he’s under your protection, but he will need to leave the family when he gets older. A healthy man should at least earn his own living.”

His words seemed to advise her, but they were actually a criticism towards Ron. The reproach in each word was evident. However, Ron showed no reaction. He had grown accustomed to such scoldings over the past decade. Over time, one becomes numb to such things.

The butler despised Ron, and Ron had grown used to the disdain of others. To the extent that his expression didn’t even change when he was told that he would be abandoned later. However, in response to the butler’s sharp words, she finally intervened.

“Why should Ron need to earn a living? All he has to do in front of me is spread his legs.”

“Spread his legs… My Lord, I’ve told you multiple times to stop talking like that…”

“Spread legs, what’s wrong with that? It’s a fact, without a single lie.”

With a mischievous smile, she pulled Ron’s arm. Ron hesitated, unsure of what to do, and Martian stepped forward, starting to unbutton his clothes. The steward called her with a concerned expression.

“Please, My Lord.”

Martian continued to unbutton Ron’s clothes. As his upper garments gradually opened up, the ring piercing his ni*ple and the chain connecting it became visible. The steward, with a face that seemed unable to bear it any longer, stood up, closed the door, and withdrew. Martian gave a playful smile and had Ron lie down on the sofa.

Ron obediently lay on the sofa and looked at Martian. She lightly touched his cheek, which evoked memories of their childhood. She had impulsively saved him back then, but she couldn’t make him happy. While this place might be better than the life of a wandering orphan, he didn’t have a proper place to call his own in this house.

Touching Ron’s cheek gently, she said, 

“The steward doesn’t hate you, he can’t openly criticize me, that’s why he seems to dislike you. It’s not because you did something wrong.”

“I’m fine. My Lord.”

His expression was as impassive as usual. Since he didn’t show his emotions, it was difficult to tell whether he was hurt or consoled. It was regrettable in many ways. If he were more expressive, he could have conveyed a more convincing mood.

Ron even suppressed his tears when they welled up, and he mostly endured everything. Of course, even suppressing his tears had an element of excitement.

“Not fun.”

Even when she tried to comfort him gently, if this was the response, it was hard for the mood to stay upbeat. He didn’t know how to adorably beg. People who were originally stiff and dry lacked sensitivity. Despite feeling sorry for Ron in various ways, when he acted like this, that sentiment would fade.

Martian patted Ron’s cheek playfully. The sound of her hand hitting his flesh was more pronounced with a little force. Even getting hit, he tried to endure it quietly. He clenched his teeth. He did it to endure, even if he were to be hit harder.

For Ron to cry and beg, his cheeks would have to be so puffy that his mouth would be torn open. Or maybe it wasn’t possible to get him to cry and beg in the first place with a spanking.

“Little boring.”

She sat up. While she did dislike those who selfishly pursued their desires, she also found those who behaved like distasteful stones. As the atmosphere became awkward, Ron raised his gaze hesitantly. Martian looked at Ron’s fallen clothes on the floor for a moment before finally speaking.

“Ron, get up. We need to go to the Moonlit Haven.”

* * *

As they stepped out of Martian’s carriage, the manager of the Moonlight Night greeted them personally. He was a man with a plump face and an expensive suit. Each time the number of floors of the brothel increased, his face seemed to get rounder.

“It’s been a while, Lady Martian.”

“Thanks to whom?”

“Oh my, because of him, we’ve been so busy lately… If I had known he had such a personality, I wouldn’t have dared to introduce him. We’ve been putting so much effort into finding the right person for Lady Martian…”

He made the sound as if he were suffering, but there was no pause. He was someone who made a living with discerning eyes for people’s s*xual preferences and a smooth tongue. However, the content was not to Martian’s liking. She gestured with her hand to stop him.

“Enough with the excuses, just do what needs to be done.”

“Oh, then please wait in the room. I’ll connect you with a suitable person right away. But, um… Who’s this person over there?”